System for mounting a bracket to a coupler head

ABSTRACT

A coupler head and mounting bracket combination for supporting a brake hose fitting uses a lug formed integrally with the coupler head and a support bracket mating with the lug. In embodiments, the bracket may be installed in a plurality of vertical positions on the coupler head. The bracket is maintained in a position inboard of the lateral side of the coupler head, to reduce or eliminate the likelihood that the bracket will interfere with the other equipment or the car body. Embodiments of the invention are particularly adapted for “E” type and “F” type coupler heads.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention is directed generally to an apparatus for mountinga brake line support on each end of a rail car, and more specifically toa coupler head and mounting bracket combination supporting a brake hosefitting. The mounting system may be used with any type of rail car, butfeatures of the invention are particularly adapted for use with a railcar known as a “cushioned car”, characterized by having a shockabsorbing cushioning unit. Embodiments are particularly adapted for “E”type and “F” type coupler heads.

Description of the Related Art

A brake line for a rail car generally consists of a rigid pipe fixedlyattached to a rail car, terminating in an angle cock valve at the end ofthe rail car. The angle cock valve is connected to a flexible hosesupported on a hanger bracket, which maintains a predetermined distancebetween the hose and the ground, which distance is specified bystandards set by the American Association of Railroads (“AAR”). Theflexible hose in turn is connected to a trainline support casting,connected to a further flexible hose, referred to as the “end hose”,terminating at a “glad hand” fitting. The glad hand connects to a likeseries of structures on the next adjacent railcar. This system offlexible hoses between cars permits them to be reliably disconnectedfrom and connected with each other, and supports the trainline through aturn, when the axes of adjacent rail cars and couplers are not inalignment. Failure of these elements may result in an emergency brakeapplication, and there are consequently strict AAR standards, andrelatively few acceptable arrangements to meet the above statedobjectives.

Not long after cushioned cars were first introduced, U.S. Pat. No.3,587,868 to Yates, assigned to Pullman Incorporated, described andclaimed a support bracket mounted directly on a coupler head. Howeverthe design had significant drawbacks and did not meet with generalacceptance. One drawback of the Pullman design is that mounting thebracket on the coupler requires all four of the conventionally providedopenings on the coupler head, which is not adaptable to variations incoupler head designs. Use of all four apertures also prohibits themounting of an end-of-train device, which is conventionally mounted onthe coupler head using two of the apertures. Further, the Pullman designdid not allow the trainline support casting to adjust its angle, and thebracket is positioned so far to the side of the coupler, that it couldinterfere with the angle cock valve on many current cushioned cardesigns.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,780,022 by the assignee herein describes acoupler-mounted bracket mounted directly on the coupler head using twoapertures on the coupler head. The coupler-mounted bracket supports atrainline support casting capable of partial rotational movement in ahorizontal plane while supporting brake hoses between railway cars. Thiscasting affords several advantages over the Pullman design, in that itis more streamlined laterally, and uses only two holes on the face ofthe coupler head, among other features. However, positioning thecoupler-mounted bracket on an external face on the guard arm side of thecoupler head still has drawbacks, in that the bracket may be attachedonly in a single fixed position with respect to the coupler head and thebracket may interfere laterally with equipment on the rail car body. Thecoupler-mounted bracket has also been found to interfere with the carbody in the longitudinal direction in some cases. Additionally,attaching the bracket to existing apertures in the coupler head requiresnon-standard fasteners to accommodate the shape and dimensions oftypical coupler head designs, and the bracket mounting position on theguard arm side of the coupler head requires the bracket to have asomewhat elongated and wide shape while positioning the trainlinesupport casting in the desired location.

Thus, there is a need for an improved assembly for mounting a bracket tothe coupler head and supporting a trainline support casting (or similardevice) that reduces the overall size of the bracket, which increasesits strength, prevents the bracket from interfering with the car body inthe lateral and longitudinal directions, and which provides for simplerattachment of the bracket at different height positions withconventional fasteners.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

These and other objects of the invention are achieved, according to oneaspect of the invention, with a railcar coupler having a lug integralwith the coupler head adapted to mount a brake line support bracket forsupporting a brake hose fitting. The lug is integral with a wall on theguard arm side of the lock hole of the coupler and comprises a surfacefacing the guard arm side of the coupler head. The lug is provided withat least two apertures, each aperture configured to receive a fastenerthrough the aperture and through a respective aperture in the brake linesupport bracket. As a result of this arrangement, the lug and theinstalled bracket are entirely inboard of a peripheral lateral surfaceof the guard arm side of the coupler head.

In another aspect, the invention is a coupler head and bracketcombination for mounting a brake hose fitting to a coupler of a railcar,comprising a coupler having an integral lug and a coupler-mountedbracket attached to the lug. The coupler head has a guard arm side, aknuckle side, and a lock hole delimited on at least the guard arm sideby a lock hole wall. A lug plate for attaching the coupler-mountedbracket is integral with the outboard surface of the lock hole wall andcomprises a surface facing toward the guard arm side of the coupler headand at least two apertures. Each aperture is configured to receive arespective fastener (a conventional bolt) for fastening the bracket tothe coupler head. The bracket has a first arm extending in a verticaldirection and a second arm, integral with the first arm, extending in ahorizontal direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the railcarcoupler, away from the coupler head and offset laterally from the firstarm. A mounting portion of the first arm comprises at least two mountingholes, each of said at least two mounting holes configured to align witha respective aperture on the lug plate, and configured to receive arespective fastener for fastening the bracket to the lug plate of thecoupler head. An end portion of the second arm opposite the first arm isconfigured to receive a brake hose fitting. The support bracket isinboard of all lateral peripheral surfaces of the coupler head.

In still another embodiment of the invention, the trainline supportbracket is a welded or cast feature of the coupler head, connected atone end to the coupler head adjacent the lock hole and extendingvertically away from the coupler head, and then parallel to thelongitudinal axis of the coupler shank toward the car body. The end ofthe welded or cast feature toward the car body is adapted to receive atrainline support fitting.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The subject matter regarded as the invention is particularly pointed outand distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of this specification.The invention, however, both as to organization and method of operation,together with objects, features, and advantages thereof, may best beunderstood by reference to the following detailed descriptions when readwith the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of a coupler and bracket combinationaccording to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of the assembly of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a partial detail of a lug plate according to an embodiment ofthe invention, showing integral attachment to the coupler head.

FIG. 4 is an isometric view of a brake line support bracket according toan embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a view, along a longitudinal axis, of the profile of thebracket combination according to the invention compared to the priorart, which is depicted in dashed lines.

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the profile of the bracket combinationaccording to the invention compared to the prior art, which is depictedin dashed lines.

It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration,elements shown in the figures have not necessarily been drawn to scale.For example, the dimensions of some of the elements may be exaggeratedrelative to other elements for clarity. Additionally, the many featuresof any one embodiment shown in a figure should not be consideredindependent and separate from the features of an embodiment shown inanother figure, and it is conceivable that features of any oneembodiment may be combinable with another. Further, where consideredappropriate, reference numerals may be repeated among the figures toindicate corresponding or analogous elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are setforth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention.However, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the artthat the present invention may be practiced without these specificdetails. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, and/orcomponents have not been described in detail so as not to obscure thepresent invention.

The terms “trainline” and “brake line” are used interchangeably to referto pipes, hoses and the like, for conveying pressurized air forpneumatic systems on a railcar. Directions and orientations herein referto the normal orientation of a railway car in use. Thus, unless thecontext clearly requires otherwise, the “longitudinal” axis or directionis about parallel to the rails and in the direction of movement of therailway car on the track in either direction. The “lateral” or“transverse” direction or axis is about perpendicular to thelongitudinal direction in a parallel plane. “Up” and “top” mean towardthe sky; “down” and “bottom” mean toward the ground. “Vertical” is theup-and-down direction, and “horizontal” is a plane parallel to the railsincluding the transverse and longitudinal axes. These orienting termsare all approximate. The term “inboard” means toward the center of thecar or toward the longitudinal axis as context requires. Similarly,“outboard” means away from the center of the car or center line.

As known in the art, the “coupler head” refers to a portion of thecoupler, wider than the shank, away from the car body, beginning atabout the lock hole. Reference is now made to FIG. 1, which is anillustration of an embodiment according to the invention shown in sideelevation. As known in the art, a railcar coupler 10 comprises tail end11 received in the car body (not shown), and coupler head 12 oppositethe tail end receiving a knuckle 14. FIG. 1 is a view taken from theguard arm side of the coupler, showing conventional apertures 22, 22′,23, 23′. Brake line support bracket 16 extends away from the couplerhead and has an end 18 adapted to receive a trainline support casting20. In embodiments, trainline support casting 20 permits partialrotation in the horizontal plane to accommodate a brake hose, similar oridentical in effect to the trainline support casting described in theaforesaid U.S. Pat. No. 7,780,022, which is incorporated by reference.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the coupler head and bracket assembly from thebottom, showing coupler head 12 having a knuckle side 11 and a guard armside 13. As known in the art, lock hole 26 provides access for amechanism used to install and uninstall the knuckle. Lock hole 26 isdelimited on at least the guard arm side by lock hole wall 27, best seenin the isometric detail of FIG. 3.

According to an embodiment of the invention depicted in the isometricdetail view of FIG. 3, lug plate 30 is formed integrally with theoutboard surface of lock hole wall 27, and may be a cast feature of thecoupler or may be welded to the lock hole wall. The lug plate 30comprises a surface 31 facing toward the guard arm side of the couplerhead, and at least two apertures 32 each configured to receive afastener for attaching bracket 16 to coupler head 12. Preferably, asshown in the plan view of FIG. 2, installed bracket 16, includingfasteners 17, is inboard of a peripheral lateral surface of the guardarm side of the coupler head.

Facing surface 31 of lug plate 30 is provided with one or more raisedpositioning ribs 33 and clamping surface 35 which mate with a surface 39on bracket 16 shown in the isometric view of bracket 16 in FIG. 4. Asshown in FIG. 4, surface 39 is defined by a continuous rib 37 having ahorizontal top portion 41 and opposed vertical side portions 42(together or individually sometimes referred to as “locating ribs”).Thus, a locating surface 38 of rib 37 faces raised clamping surface 35on lug plate 30. In this way, when bracket 16 is installed on facingsurface 31, the bolts received in holes 32 are not subjected to shearand the bracket is immobilized in the vertical and horizontaldirections. In a low position, horizontal portion 41 of rib 37 isreceived in a groove between rib 33 and clamping surface 35. In a highposition, horizontal locating rib 41 is positioned vertically above oneor more positioning ribs 33.

Brake line support bracket 16 comprises two or more pairs of mountingholes (47, 47) and (47′, 47′) for receiving fasteners. Each pair ofmounting holes is vertically spaced from the other, adapted to positionbrake line support bracket 16 in at least two vertical positions.According to preferred embodiments of the invention, conventionalfasteners 17 are used to attach bracket 16 to lug 30, which avoids thecustomized attachment mechanism used with commercial coupler-mountedbrackets. A back surface of lug 30 opposite receiving surface 31comprises a locking recess (not shown) adjacent each respectiveaperture, each locking recess configured in the shape of a slot toreceive a conventional bolt. The recess is shaped to prevent rotation ofthe bolt in the recess when a conventional nut is threaded on to attachbracket 16.

Bracket 16 further comprises vertical arm 46, comprising the mountingportion, and horizontal arm 48, comprising an end 18 adapted to supporttrainline support casting 20. Vertical arm 46 and horizontal arm 48 arelaterally offset from one another by angled portion 49. FIG. 5 depictsthe profile of this embodiment of the invention compared with the priorart design, shown in dashed lines in FIG. 5. Evident from FIG. 5, thebracket according to this embodiment of the invention has a narrowerprofile and is shorter vertically than the prior art design. Likewise,FIG. 6 shows in dashed lines where a coupler-mounted bracket accordingto a current commercial embodiment would be located.

It will be evident to those skilled in the art that the invention is notlimited to the details of the foregoing illustrative embodiments andthat the present invention may be embodied in other specific formswithout departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof.

The embodiments presented herein are, therefore, to be considered in allrespects as illustrative and not restrictive of the scope of theinvention, and the skilled artisan will appreciate the appropriateequivalents thereto, which are to be considered as part of thisinvention.

1. A railcar coupler adapted to mount a brake line support bracket,comprising: a coupler head having a guard arm side, a knuckle side, anda lock hole delimited on at least the guard arm side by a lock holewall, and a lug plate comprising a receiving surface and at least twoapertures, each aperture configured to receive a fastener through eachaperture and through a respective aperture in the brake line supportbracket; wherein the lug plate is integral with an outboard surface ofthe lock hole wall and is inboard of a peripheral lateral surface of theguard arm side of the coupler head.
 2. The railcar coupler according toclaim 1, wherein the lug plate further comprises at least one raisedhorizontal locking rib on the lug plate receiving surface configured tomate with at least one locating surface on the brake line supportbracket.
 3. The railcar coupler according to claim 2, wherein the lugplate receiving surface comprises first and second horizontal slotsadjacent the horizontal locking rib, respectively above and below thehorizontal locking rib, configured to mate with the at least onelocating surface on the brake line support bracket at different verticalpositions of the brake line support bracket with respect to the coupler.4. The railcar coupler according to claim 1, wherein the lug platereceiving surface further comprises a clamping face and a pair ofvertical guide surfaces located on opposite peripheral edges of theclamping face, configured to engage locating surfaces on a brake linesupport bracket received on the clamping face.
 5. The railcar coupleraccording to claim 1, wherein the lug plate further comprises a backsurface opposing the front surface, the back surface comprising alocking recess adjacent each respective aperture, each locking recessconfigured to receive a fastener bolt and prevent rotation of thefastener bolt in the respective recess.
 6. The railcar according toclaim 1, wherein a first aperture of the at least two apertures isoffset vertically and horizontally from a second aperture of the atleast two apertures.
 7. An assembly for mounting a brake hose fitting toa coupler head of a railcar coupler, the assembly comprising: a couplerhead having a guard arm side, a knuckle side, and a lock hole delimitedon at least the guard arm side by a lock hole wall; a lug plate integralwith an outboard surface of the lock hole wall comprising a receivingsurface facing the guard arm side of the coupler head and at least twoapertures, each aperture configured to receive a respective fastener forfastening the brake line support bracket to the coupler head; and abrake line support bracket having a first arm extending in a verticaldirection; a second arm, integral with the first arm, extending in ahorizontal direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the railcarcoupler, away from the coupler head and offset laterally from the firstarm; an end portion of the second arm opposite the first arm configuredto receive the brake hose fitting; and a mounting portion of the firstarm opposite the second arm comprising at least two mounting holes, eachof said at least two mounting holes configured to align with arespective aperture on the lug plate and configured to receive arespective fastener for fastening the bracket to the lug plate of thecoupler head; wherein the support bracket is inboard of all lateralperipheral surfaces of the coupler head.
 8. The assembly according toclaim 7, wherein the lug plate comprises at least one horizontal lockingrib on the lug plate front surface, the horizontal locking ribconfigured to mate with at least one locating surface on the brake linesupport bracket.
 9. The assembly according to claim 8, wherein the lugplate further comprises a clamping surface vertically below the lockingrib, forming a groove between the locking rib and the clamping surface;and the brake line support bracket further comprises a horizontallocating rib adapted to be positioned in the groove between the lockingrib and the clamping surface.
 10. The assembly according to claim 9,wherein the brake line support bracket comprises at least two pairs ofmounting holes, each pair of said at least two pairs of mounting holesbeing vertically spaced from the other of the respective pair ofmounting holes, adapted to position the brake line support bracket in attwo vertical positions: (a) a low position wherein the horizontallocating rib is positioned in the groove between the locking rib and theclamping surface, and (b) a high position wherein the horizontallocating rib is positioned vertically above the locking rib.
 11. Theassembly according to claim 10, wherein each of said at least two pairsof apertures comprises a first aperture offset vertically andhorizontally from a second aperture.
 12. The assembly according to claim7, wherein the first arm of the brake line support bracket comprises avertical mounting portion and an angled portion between the verticalmounting portion and the second arm of the brake line support bracket,creating a lateral offset between the longitudinal axis of the secondarm and the vertical axis of the vertical mounting portion.
 13. Theassembly according to claim 7, wherein the lug plate receiving surfacefurther comprises a clamping face and a pair of vertical guide surfaceslocated on opposite peripheral edges of the clamping face, configured tomate with vertical ribs on opposed peripheral edges of the brake linesupport bracket received on the clamping face, and wherein a fastenerreceived in a mounting hole in the brake line support bracket is notsubject to shear force.
 14. The assembly according to claim 7, whereinthe brake line support bracket comprises a recessed mating surfacecontaining said mounting holes, said mating surface defined by acontinuous rib on a horizontal top edge and opposed vertical sides edgesof the brake line support bracket, wherein a side of said rib facing themating surface engages a raised clamping surface on said lug plate. 15.The assembly according to claim 7, wherein the lug plate is a cast partof, or welded onto, the coupler head, and further comprising a pair ofthreaded bolts attaching the brake line support bracket to the lugplate.
 16. A brake line support bracket adapted to be attached to anintegral lug plate on a coupler head, the brake line support bracketcomprising: a first arm extending in a vertical direction; a second arm,integral with the first arm, extending in a horizontal direction andoffset laterally from the first arm by an integral angled portion on thefirst arm; an end portion of the second arm opposite the first armconfigured to receive a brake hose fitting; and a mounting portion ofthe first arm opposite the second arm comprising at least two mountingholes, each of said at least two mounting holes configured to align witha respective aperture on the lug plate and configured to receive arespective fastener for fastening the bracket to the lug plate of thecoupler head; wherein the brake line support bracket is mounted entirelyinboard of a peripheral edge of the guard arm side of the coupler head.17. The brake line support bracket according to claim 16, wherein saidmounting holes are contained within a mating surface defined by acontinuous rib on a horizontal top edge and opposed vertical side edgesof the brake line support bracket, and wherein said continuous rib isadapted to mate with surfaces on the lug plate.
 18. The brake linesupport bracket according to claim 17, wherein said mating surfacecomprises at least two pairs of mounting holes, each pair of said atleast two pairs of mounting holes being vertically spaced from the otherof the respective pair of mounting holes.
 19. The brake line supportbracket according to claim 18, wherein each of said pairs of mountingholes comprises a first mounting hole offset vertically and horizontallyfrom a second mounting hole.
 20. A railcar coupler adapted for directmounting a brake hose fitting to a coupler head, comprising: a couplerhead having a guard arm side, a knuckle side, and a lock hole delimitedon at least the guard arm side by a lock hole wall; a cast feature ofthe coupler integral with an outboard surface of the lock hole wall andhaving a first arm extending in a vertical direction; a second arm,integral with the first arm, extending in a horizontal directionparallel to a longitudinal axis of the railcar coupler, away from thecoupler head and offset laterally from the first arm; an end portion ofthe second arm opposite the first arm configured to receive the brakehose fitting wherein, the cast feature is inboard of all lateralperipheral surfaces of the coupler head.